(Photo: Verizon’s new VP of Channel Partnerships John Constantino)

Following the sudden resignation of channel leader Mark Tina, Verizon has named John Constantino to the role of VP of channel partnerships and has made other organizational changes as well.

In a note sent to channel partners, the company said, "Verizon continues to optimize our organization to drive growth and enhance partner collaboration," and is "making key strategic adjustments to its channel organization and operating model."

While Constantino will drive the company's channel strategy going forward, the telecommunications giant said Michael Caralis, VP of Business Sales, will lead the overall broadband strategy and support the Alternative Channel Distribution (ACD) program. Caralis is a familiar and well-liked presence in the channel. He ushered in numerous channel enhancements over the years before moving into other roles. The combination of Constantino and Caralis will no doubt reassure partners of the company's commitment to the channel. There is a great deal for partners to unpack regarding these moves so stay tuned.

Verizon also noted that as it continues building a unified, cohesive channel approach, the I2B (Indirect-to-Business) team is being consolidated directly into the core channel organization under Constantino's leadership.

Tina, considered a Verizon lifer, resigned suddenly this week and left the technology channel entirely. Tina is joining Humana, pivoting from telecom to healthcare as the company scales its Medicare Advantage distribution strategy. It's a bold career shift that leverages his decades of indirect channel expertise in an entirely new vertical. One partner commented that Tina’s ability to navigate large bureaucratic organizations will come in handy at Humana, which had revenue of more than $123.4 billion last year to Verizon’s $138.2 billion.

"The indirect distribution skills I've built over a career managing partner ecosystems at scale translate directly to one of the most important and complex distribution challenges in American healthcare," Tina shared in his departure post on LinkedIn.

Mark Tina
His exit adds another layer of disruption to an already dynamic telco channel landscape. T-Mobile and AT&T have both recently brought on new channel leaders, intensifying competition in this high-stakes market. Now, Verizon faces the challenge of replacing a seasoned leader who shaped how the company engaged with its partner community across consumer, enterprise, and public sector segments. All of the large service providers are looking to diversify their channel by recruiting more IT-focused partners while navigating massive shifts in the traditional tech advisor and technology services distribution markets.

Darcee Nelan, president of the board of IT consultant and services firm IQ Wired, said she expects any change in channel leadership to bring a period of transition and Verizon is no exception.

“A new leader brings their own priorities, relationships and perspective on the business,” she said. “Even when the ultimate changes are positive, momentum can slow while the organization adjusts and the new leadership direction becomes clear. Mark had been in the role for roughly three years. That's enough time to establish relationships, priorities and organizational momentum. When someone at that level leaves, you're not simply replacing a person or a title, you're replacing established relationships, institutional knowledge, trust and leadership continuity.”